"Dumb" doesnt actually mean unintelligent it means mute, its just a really old term so dont take offence.

I take offense to it, but not because of the origins of the word. I understand the origins of the term "dumb". But, I am sensitive towards the word because I am constantly bullied and harassed, being called the "Deaf and Dumb girl" all the time - but those people who harass me mean the word "dumb" to mean unintelligent and stupid.

THAT is why I don't like the term. I am perfectly intelligent, thank you very much.

__________________A FEW of my favorite quotes:

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” ~ Dr. Seuss

“The past does not have to be your prison. You have a voice in your destiny. You have a say in your life. You have a choice in the path you take.” ~ Max Lucado

“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” ~ Fred Rogers

“Even though you may not understand how God works, you know he does.” ~ Max Lucado

Offended?....Damn right I would be offended...Deaf & Dumb is still being spoken/used today...and the last person that referred me as such got a tongue-lashing, and a little education. I even quizzed that person as to "why" a deaf person would be considered "dumb" also.....

I do know what "dumb" means. I don't think anyone realizes that using the term "Deaf and Dumb" encourages mircoaggressions and mircoinsults. Every deaf person we have had met is a "mute"? Can they speak for themselves? What about hard of hearing and deaf people who have learned how to speak and lipread? Are they still "mute" or "dumb"? Why do people labeled them the term "deaf and dumb?"

How many of you guys know what the word "micro-aggression" means? I learned it from taking culturally diverse on theory and practice class. The definition of mirco-aggression is "brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages" to a target group such as people of color, women, and gays (Sue et al,,2007). If a person is showing mirco-aggressions toward a gay person, it is often subtle in nature and can be manifested in the verbal, nonverbal, visual, or behavioral realm. The person might be done it intentionally or unintentionally (Sue et al., 2007).

Mircoaggressions are

1. tend to be subtle, unintentional, and indirect.
2. often occur in situations where there are alternative explanations
3. represent unconscious and ingrained biased beliefs and attitudes
4. are more likely to occur when people pretend not to notice differences, thereby denying that race, gender, or sexual orientation had anything to do with their actions (sue et al.,2007)

A person can be mircoinsult if she or he made comments or behaves that convey rudeness or insensitivity or demean a person's racial heritage identity, gender identity, or sexual orientation identity. How many people have done this? I believe that many of us have done it intentionally or unintentionally.

Deaf and Dumb -- A relic from the medieval English era, this is the granddaddy of all negative labels pinned on deaf and hard of hearing people. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, pronounced us “deaf and dumb,” because he felt that deaf people were incapable of being taught, of learning, and of reasoned thinking. To his way of thinking, if a person could not use his/her voice in the same way as hearing people, then there was no way that this person could develop cognitive abilities. (Source: Deaf Heritage, by Jack Gannon, 1980)

In later years, “dumb” came to mean “silent.” This definition still persists, because that is how people see deaf people. The term is offensive to deaf and hard of hearing people for a number of reasons. One, deaf and hard of hearing people are by no means “silent” at all. They use sign language, lip-reading, vocalizations, and so on to communicate. Communication is not reserved for hearing people alone, and using one’s voice is not the only way to communicate. Two, “dumb” also has a second meaning: stupid. Deaf and hard of hearing people have encountered plenty of people who subscribe to the philosophy that if you cannot use your voice well, you don’t have much else “upstairs,” and have nothing going for you. Obviously, this is incorrect, ill-informed, and false. Deaf and hard of hearing people have repeatedly proved that they have much to contribute to the society at large.

In other countries, especially South Africa, that term is still used from what I've seen.

__________________ Warning: Anything I post may not make any sense. All advice is for entertainment value only. Sarcasm might be present. Interpret at your own risk.

I take offense to it, but not because of the origins of the word. I understand the origins of the term "dumb". But, I am sensitive towards the word because I am constantly bullied and harassed, being called the "Deaf and Dumb girl" all the time - but those people who harass me mean the word "dumb" to mean unintelligent and stupid.

THAT is why I don't like the term. I am perfectly intelligent, thank you very much.

WHERE on earth do you even live? Are you a time traveler from the 1800's?

I was unable to speak for around 7 or 8 months. I went through a lot of speech therapy and other medical therapies, until I finally had surgery to correct the problem. When I tried to speak, I couldn't for more than a second or two. When I could speak, my voice was very hoarse and unclear. After a while, I stopped voicing all together, because I couldn't, and when I could manage to voice for a few seconds, it sounded to other people quite weird and it caused me pain. I have breathing problems, too. I was constantly bullied about it. I was also hoh at the time. This is when people started calling me "that deaf and dumb girl" - because I was hoh, and because I couldn't speak. The name has stuck ever since, even though I can now speak somewhat. (Though I choose not to most of the time, due to lasting problems.)

This is why I am sensitive about the term "deaf and dumb" - because I am always being teased and tormented and called that. And people think that just because I am deaf, that I MUST be stupid, too - which I am NOT.

You can choose not to believe me, but I am telling the honest truth. I am NOT a faker.

Oh, and by the way, I don't even watch TV at all. I have other things to do besides watch TV. I've only seen two episodes of SAB, total. I don't watch anything on TV.

__________________A FEW of my favorite quotes:

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” ~ Dr. Seuss

“The past does not have to be your prison. You have a voice in your destiny. You have a say in your life. You have a choice in the path you take.” ~ Max Lucado

“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” ~ Fred Rogers

“Even though you may not understand how God works, you know he does.” ~ Max Lucado

and the term "dumb" was once PC...it just went bad just like the term retarded is doing now. People decide "oh this term/thingy has a bad rep, so let's try to change the name so it sounds nicer." Thus insistutions became developmental centers/mental hospitals.